There are a lot of places to find a real estate agent.
You can ask someone you know for a referral, search online, visit an open house, contact a local brokerage, or use an agent-matching service.
But the best place to look can depend on your situation.
You might need to find an agent quickly.
Or you may be searching from out of state and don’t know anyone in the area.
Whether you need a listing agent or a buyer’s agent can make a difference too.
And you don’t have to rely on just one source.
Looking in a few different places can give you a better group of agents to consider.
Here are seven places to find a real estate agent and what you should know about each one.
1. Real estate marketplaces
Platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com can be a convenient way to find real estate agents.
You can scan profiles, reviews, and sales history in just a few clicks.
Start by searching your city or ZIP code.
From there, you can find details such as:
- An agent’s recent sales
- The price ranges they’ve worked in
- Whether they typically represent buyers or sellers
- Ratings and reviews.
If you’re buying, look for agents who frequently represent buyers.
And if you’re selling, target agents who represent sellers more often than buyers.
Pay particular attention to their recent sales.
When we research agents for SoldNest, we put more weight on an agent’s recent transactions than their lifetime count.
It gives us a better picture of how active they are in their current market.
Reviews can add context too, especially when you look at feedback from buyers versus sellers.
Pro tip: Some platforms show whether an agent represented the buyer, seller, or both in a transaction. Pay attention to agents who frequently represent both sides (a dual agency sale). Think twice about adding an agent to your list if you see this happening repeatedly.
Who this works best for: People who prefer a data-driven approach and have time to browse online.
What to know: Many platforms let agents pay for “premier” or “recommended” labels. Don’t assume these signal quality, because they don’t. Those labels are ads, not proof of expertise.
2. Referrals from friends and family
One of the most common ways of finding a real estate agent is by asking people you know.
Friends, family members, or coworkers who’ve recently bought or sold can share firsthand details about their experience.
Things like how the agent communicated, negotiated, and handled challenges.
These are insights you won’t always get from online reviews.
Reach out to people who’ve completed a similar transaction to yours, ideally in the same area.
Ask specific questions, such as:
- How did the agent communicate?
- Did you feel they fought for you when negotiating?
- What were you most impressed with?
You can also ask something that reveals a drawback, like: “If there’s one negative you can point to, what would it be?”
What you don’t want to do is ask something too generic.
Something like, “Do you know a good Realtor?” rarely gives you useful context.
It can be tempting to stop at one recommendation.
But reaching out to several people will give you more agents to consider.
Pro tip: Be cautious of referrals that sound vague or overly generic. And avoid recommendations from people who’ve never actually completed a transaction with that agent.
Who this works best for: People who value personal recommendations and want to start their search with an agent who’s already been tested by someone they trust.
What to know: A referral should give you someone to consider, not someone to automatically hire. The experience your friend or family member had may be different from yours, so look for your own signs that the agent is good.
3. Local real estate offices
Another way to go about finding a Realtor is through a local brokerage.
A quick Google search for “real estate office near me” will show both national brands (like Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, Compass) and smaller local firms.
You’ll likely speak with a receptionist when you first call.
Whether you’re buying or selling, be sure to ask for an agent who works with your type of transaction.
For example…
“I’m looking for a real estate agent to help me buy a home in [city/neighborhood]. Can you provide me with the cell phone number and email of someone who works with buyers in that area?”
A large brokerage may give you several names from a single phone call.
But with a smaller office, you may need to contact a few brokerages to build the same size list.
Pro tip: Brokerages often assign walk-in or call-in leads based on convenience or office incentives. So don’t rely on the first name they give you. Ask for the contact information of more than one agent so you have several names to start with.
Who this works best for: People who want a nearby office they can visit and prefer a guided introduction instead of searching online on their own.
What to know: The name of an agent’s brokerage has very little, if anything, to do with the quality of the service you’ll receive. Each agent operates independently, so your experience will come down to the individual, not the brand.
4. Social media and reviews
Real estate agents are easy to find on social media.
Search “[city] real estate agent” on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and you’ll find a long list of agents.
Many of them promote their listings, share market updates, and post about the areas they serve.
Local Facebook groups can also be a great source.
Browse previous posts where someone asked for a Realtor recommendation.
Or create your own post asking for names.
An agent is probably worth adding to your list if you see their name mentioned by several people.
Google and Yelp can uncover more names.
Searching “[city] real estate agent” will bring up individual agents and local brokerages along with reviews from past clients.
Pro tip: Don’t focus only on the number of reviews. Look for specific stories that highlight their communication style, follow-through, or how they worked with clients during the buying or selling process.
Who this works best for: People who use social media and want to see which agents are being recommended in a particular area.
What to know: Be cautious if an agent’s social media looks polished but they have few or no reviews. Without much client feedback, it can be harder to tell whether their online image reflects what it’s actually like to work with them. And reading their reviews can reveal common signs of a bad Realtor that you won’t see on their social media.
5. Open houses
Attending open houses is a low-pressure way to meet real estate agents and see how they interact with potential clients.
Sellers can see how an agent markets and “sells” a property to prospective home shoppers.
And buyers can meet agents who are already working in the areas where they want to buy.
Browse Zillow, Realtor.com, or Redfin for upcoming open houses in the area you’re buying or selling in.
You can also find them on social media through local real estate pages and posts.
Narrow the search to homes in neighborhoods and price ranges similar to yours.
This can help you find agents who already have experience with the type of property or area you’re interested in.
When you arrive, introduce yourself and strike up a casual conversation.
Ask a question or two about the home or local market.
If the agent seems like someone you might want to talk with again, get their contact information and add them to your list.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on how the agent acts at the open house. If they’re glued to their phone, seem totally unprepared, or can’t answer basic questions about the house, take it as a red flag.
Who this works best for: People who are comfortable with in-person introductions and want to meet agents who are already working in a particular area.
What to know: Don’t assume the person hosting the open house is the listing agent. Busy agents often delegate these events to team members, so confirm their role before adding them to your list.
6. Online communities
Platforms like Reddit, Nextdoor, and Facebook Groups can be useful places to find real estate agents who are active in your market.
They often provide an unfiltered view of people’s buying and selling experiences.
Look for communities relevant to where you live or plan to move:
- On Reddit, check local subreddits like “r/[YourCity]” for discussions about real estate agents.
- On Nextdoor, look through posts from people in the neighborhood or surrounding area.
- On Facebook, search for community groups specific to the city or neighborhood.
Once you’re in, use the search function to look for past discussions.
Terms like “real estate agent” or “Realtor” can surface threads with names and personal recommendations.
If nothing turns up, post your own question.
Be specific about whether you’re buying, selling, or doing both.
You can also mention the neighborhood, property type, or anything else that might help people give you a more relevant recommendation.
Pro tip: Watch out for recommendations that sound more like ads than genuine experiences. An overly polished or repetitive post can be a sign of self-promotion.
Who this works best for: People who are comfortable in digital spaces and prefer community-driven recommendations over formal directories.
What to know: Be cautious with replies. Agents or people connected to them may recommend themselves without making that relationship obvious. Check the commenter’s profile and post history before putting much weight on the recommendation.
7. Real estate agent matching services
An agent matching service can take the hassle out of finding a Realtor.
Instead of searching through dozens of agents on your own, these services can introduce you to agents based on your situation and preferences.
Most are free to use, but not all platforms work the same way.
Some simply pass your information on to agents who pay to be featured.
And others claim to vet agents but offer little to no transparency about their process.
So before using one, find out what an agent has to do to qualify.
At SoldNest, we’re up front about how our no-cost service works.
Sellers can get matched with up to three local agents who meet our requirements.
We also make our vetting process public so you can see exactly how we evaluate agents before matching them with sellers.
Pro tip: Many platforms highlight the number of transactions an agent has, but that alone doesn’t guarantee quality. Look for services that consider more than just experience and reviews.
Who this works best for: People who want help finding qualified agents without spending hours searching on their own.
What to know: Find out what happens to your contact information before submitting it. Some services send your information directly to multiple agents who can then contact you. At SoldNest, you decide how many matches you want and can review their profiles before any of the agents reach out.
Next step after finding potential agents
There are plenty of places to find a real estate agent.
And you don’t have to rely on just one.
Using a few of the options above can help you build a list of agents worth your time.
But finding potential agents is only the first step.
The next is figuring out which one you should go with.
If you’re selling, our guide on choosing a Realtor will help you do exactly that.
